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Carlisle Utd boss only needs two signings if squad stays intact

Carlisle United boss Greg Abbott insists he could need no more than two summer signings if he keeps the core of his squad together.

Greg Abbott and assistant Graham Kavanagh

The Blues manager, who has offered new deals to eight of his out-of-contract stars, says signing up those men is the most important work he will do this close season.

Abbott is optimistic that James Berrett, Danny Livesey, Lubo Michalik, Peter Murphy, Frank Simek, Tom Taiwo, Francois Zoko and Mark Gillespie will all accept the new terms and stay with United.

And if they do the Carlisle boss does not expect a glut of summer recruits in order to get United ready for a promotion push next term.

“The key is keeping that group together, the majority of it,” Abbott said. “If I can do that, I’ve got a really good summer to look forward to, because I only think we’ll need one or two.

“The key is keeping the group together and that’s going to be very, very difficult in the circumstances.

“A lot of the players want to stay here, because they enjoy working at the football club, they enjoy working with me and the rest of the staff.

“Sometimes they think they can find a better thing somewhere else, but not always is that going to be the case. We just have to try and get them all in, and then we’ll see what spaces are left when people have said yes and no with the contracts.”

Abbott said he would “respect” the 30-day period which the players have to make their decisions on the contract offers.

But he is hoping that at least some of the eight will commit themselves sooner.

The Blues manager, who spoke to all his players individually yesterday, described the terms offered as “reasonable and sensible”.

Captain Paul Thirlwell is staying after playing enough games in 2011/12 to trigger a year's contract extension.

The midfielder made 30 appearances.

Craig Curran, released along with defender Stephen O’Halloran, could now make a permanent move to League Two outfit Morecambe.

The striker has been on loan at the Globe Arena, where manager Jim Bentley has made no secret of his interest in Curran.

Curran, 22, scored eight goals in 69 appearances during his two-year stay, while O’Halloran managed only five appearances in his single season at Brunton Park.

O’Halloran said: “I would like to wish the club all the best – there is a great bunch of lads at the club who deserve to push on for promotion next season.”

Have your say

Some of you guys need to get real. We a good team, capable if being excellent on its day, and yes capable if its off days. Two more players sounds about right to me. Some areas need some more competition but a squad revamp it going over the top. People still going on bout signing Offiong is ridiculous! Another good season ahead I think.

Posted by Sam on
9 May 2012 at 19:39

Huddersfeild fans whished they had a keeper like ares, so did shef wed had a couple of bad games but what is he meant to do when dfence leave him wide open we can not have a keeper like westwood again stop critissing one player and be fair most pundits see him as one of the best in league 1